[1] The bogies were made by Creusot-Loire, electric equipment and traction motors by Société MTE, while the bodies were made by Carel et Fouché.

They were fitted with American-made ALCO 16-251F engines of 3600 hp (2650 kW), and final assembly was performed by Carel-Fouché.

[1] The launch customer was the Korean State Railway of North Korea, which bought seven units in 1981, and a further five in 1985.

[1][2] Subsequently, the Kim Chong-t'ae Electric Locomotive Works developed electric locomotives (the Ch'ŏngnyŏnjŏl Kinyom and the Red Flag 5400 classes) on the basis of the French-made units.

The Saudi Railways Organization received six locomotives of the type in 1983, numbered 3603 through 3608.